Collar clip



Patented lJune 2, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAR CLIP vWilliam De Laney, Willow Grove, Pa. Application September 21, 1938,Serial No. 230,951

` 1to1. 2li-s1) l My invention relates to newV and useful improvementsin a collar clip ofthe type used for holding the ends or ilaps ofcollars, especially soft and semi-stili? ones, in proper positionsrelative to each other and to other articles of the users wearingapparel in order to maintain a neat appearance. 1

One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a relativelyinexpensive device of this character which is durable andeiiicient inoperation and which accomplishes certain purposes in a unique and novelmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar clip in 'whichthe clasps are universally movable relative to eachother and the severalelements are capable of changes in positions with relation to oneanother whereby said collar clip will remain in place on the collar eventhough the latter .is ,temporarily `disarranged due to movements of thethroat-cr neel; muscles', especially abnormal movements, as when a.person coughs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar clip consistingof a spring and clasps pivotally connected with ends of said spring topermit of universal movements. y

Another object of the invention is to provide means for limiting theextensibility ofthe spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing for the springwhich will not interfere with movements of the parts of the collar clip.

A still further object of this invention isl to utilize the propertiesof a ycontractile spring for accomplishing the same purposes as whenusing an extensile spring.

With the above and `other objects in view, this invention consists ofthe details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction in detail, yreferring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawing, in Which- Fig, 1 is a view of a collar illustrating the mannerof use of the collar clip.

Fig. 2 is a frontA elevation of the collar clip illustrating the partsin a straight line position and showing in dotted lines several of thelocations which can be assumed by the clasps relative to each other andto the spring for giving the universal movements.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the collar clip shown in Fig. 2 and alsoillustrating in dotted lines some of the positions which the clasps arecapable of Y assuming.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the collar clasp with the addition of means tolimit the extension of 1 the spring, the latter being shown in sectionand extendedcondition.

Fig. 6 is aplan View of a modification wherein the spring is housedwithin a casing that limits the extensibility of said spring Aand inwhich the device is shown contracted.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the device of Fig. 6

contracted. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of another modificationwherein a contractile spring is used, the collar clip being illustratedas in a contracted condition.

Fig. 9 is a view of the device in Fig. 8 illustrated in an extended orexpanded condition.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line lll- Ill of Fig. 9.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, particular referencebeing rst had to Figs.` 1 to 5 inclusive, I5 represents a spring of theextensile type having an eye I6, or equivalent attaching means, at eachend. To each eye I6 is pivotally or swingingly connected a spring claspI1 so that said clasps may'move about in allrdirections or assume anypositions relative to each other and to the spring as suggested by thedotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. These universal move- Aments permit auser to apply the collar clip to the ends or flaps of a collar in anydesired posiusual movements of the wearer and also allows changes inpositions of the parts when abnormal movements of the neck and throatmuscles take place.

In actual practice, the clasps are attached to the opposite vends orflap of a collar and the spring will provide sufcient tension to holdthe collar snug, neat appearing and in proper posi- J tion about theneck of the wearer and still allows freedom of movements withoutdisengaging either end of the collar clasp` from the collar .which sooften happens in connection with or-v dinary unyielding clips, clasps orpins and which is exceedingly distressing and annoying to the while, atall times, urging the collar ends to the desired positions.

While the clasps I7 may be of any suitable construction to grip thecollar ends, the ones shown for purposes of illustration are producedfrom spring material and each is fashioned to provide coacting jaws I8and I9 with an entrance or mouth 2l] between them whereby they may beattached to the eyes of the spring during the course of manufacture andslipped over the edges of the collar ends when the collar clip is to beused.

As will be obvious by reference to Fig. 5, the spring I can be and isextended or expanded when the collar clip is being attached to thecollar ends and at any time while in use when certain parts of thewearers body are moved and in order to prevent undue extension orexpansion of said spring beyond its critical point, a flexiblesuppressor means 2l, such as a chain or any equivalent thereof, forinstance a string, cable or the like, has its ends attached to theclasps and extends through or around the spring I5. This allows thespring I5 to contractwithout interference but limits its expansion sothat tension thereof will not be weakened or otherwise damaged.

In Figs. 6 and '7 I have illustrated the same general principle exceptthat the suppressor takes the form of a flexible casing orhousing 22capable of being extended and shortened; This casing is produced from.suitable material in ribbon form, woven or pleated into a tubularstructure and preferably but not essentially closed at both ends. Thecasing embraces or surrounds the spring I5 so` as to substantiallyenclose the latter and the endsof said casing are connected or linked tothe clasps I1 by loops 22a. Because of the formation of said casing, themovements of the spring in any direction are not interfered with, exceptfor the limitation placed upon the extensibility or expansibilitythereof. When this last described form of the invention is being used,thespring I5 and the suppressor-casing 22 are extended in unison, asshown in Fig. '7, by the opposite force applied to the clasps I1 butwhen said clasps are released the spring I5 will contract and draw theends of the suppresser-casing towards each other, thus shortening thelatter so as to approximately correspond to the contracted body lengthof said spring as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The modification depicted in Figs. 8, 9. and

comprises two hollow telescoping members 23 and 24 constituting a casingwhich houses the contractile spring 25. The member 24, in reality,contains said spring at all times and has an abutment 26 at its innerend, preferably formed by bending portions inward. The member 23 alsohas an abutment 21 at its inner end which, like abutment 2B, preferablyis formed by bending in sections of the casing and these sectionsproject through and slide in longitudinal slots 28 in the member 24. Thespring'25 is positioned within the member 24, as before stated,

and has its opposite ends engaging the abutments 26 and 21 to urge themapart and thus contract the casing. The outer ends of the casing memberscarry eyes 29 or equivalent means for pivotally or swingingly connectingthe spring clasps 30 to opposite ends of the casing whereby said claspsare universally movable relative to each other and to the casing. Bythis particular arrangement, when the spring 25 is free to expandthecasing of the collar clip is shortened as shown in Fig. 8, but when saidcollar clip is caused to yield or be extended the spring will becompressed as illustrated in Fig. 9.

It is to be particularly noted that a collar clip constructed as abovedescribed, is exceedingly flexible and capable of yielding to anymovements of a persons body, either voluntary or involuntary andtherefore is unlikely to become detached from a collar which can anddoes happen with those of rigid form even though they embody the featureof extensibility.

Of course, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described, as these may be varied withinthe scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and useful is:

l. A collar clipcomprising a pair of collar engaging elements, anextensile spring having each end connected to an element in a manner topermit the latter to move in any direction, and suppressor-casingenclosing the spring and linked to the collar engaging elements.

2. The structure in claim 1 wherein the suppressor-casing is a flexiblestructure capable of extending and retracting.

3. The structure in claim 1 wherein the suppressor-casing is a hollowtubular member of woven ribbon strands.

WILLIAM E. DE LANEY.

